The return of Angelo Mathews has no doubt boosted Sri Lanka before the three-match Test series against India. However, the all-rounder, who missed the entire Pakistan series due to a calf injury, did not bowl a single over in the two-day practice match against Board President's XI that concluded here on Sunday (November 12).

Asked about Mathews' role in the line-up, Sri Lanka's bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake revealed that the former captain will not be bowling in the Test series. "Angelo comes in as a batsman," Ratnayake said at the end of the match.

"He has not bowled in a Test match for a while. I don't think he will bowl here. We consider him more as a white-ball bowler and will look to bowl him in the ODIs only."

The Sri Lanka team management, which is monitoring Mathews' workload over the last few months, will not risk Mathews who has suffered a string of injuries over the past 12 months.